Akron professor wins honor for devulcanisation project

ERJ staff report (R&PN)

Akron, Ohio-A professor from the University of Akron has received a 2011 Advanced Materials Innovation Award for the development of an ultrasonic rubber devulcanisation extruder and technology.

The award was given by NorTech, a regional technology advocacy group in northeast Ohio, in partnership with Crain's Cleveland Business, a business publication owned by Crain Communications Inc., parent of Rubber & Plastics News.

Avraam Isayev, a professor of polymer engineering, and his student research team developed a patented continuous process for the ultrasonic devulcanisation of tyre rubber and other rubber waste.

He said the recovery of rubber materials has been difficult because of rubber's crosslinked nature. His technology enables revulcanisation of the sulphur crosslink bonds in the rubber compound, allowing the once scrap material to be reprocessed and reused.

“Extensive experimental and theoretical studies were conducted based on this and other related inventions,” he said, noting that more than 50 articles and book chapters were published over the past 15 years to develop the technology.

Isayev earlier founded Avraam Corp. to develop an industrial ultrasonic extruder to carry out the process of recovering rubber from tyres, roofing materials, shoe soles and other industrial rubber products. Nike Inc. funded the research.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)

Website of Awards from NorTech